Molecular identification of a Nocardiopsis dassonvillei blood isolate

Nocardiopsis dassonvillei is an environmental aerobic actinomycete seldom isolated in cutaneous and pulmonary infections. We herein report the first N. dassonvillei blood isolate in a patient hospitalized for cholangitis. Although morphological characteristics and biochemical tests allowed a presumptive identification of this isolate, cell wall fatty acid chromatographic analysis confirmed identification at the genus level, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing achieved definite identification. This study illustrates the usefulness of 16S rRNA gene sequencing as a routine method for the identification of actinomycetes.